Wanted man found dead by state police, FBI

EDDYVILLE, Ill. – A remote-controlled robot, dispatched by authorities, discovered the body of fugitive Dracy “Clint” Pendleton, after he shot and wounded one FBI SWAT operator.

Pendleton became wanted after an altercation with a police officer. On Saturday, May 7, at approximately 10:45 p.m., a Mahomet police officer stopped Pendleton for a traffic violation in front of his home in Mahomet in Champaign County, Illinois. During the stop, a physical struggle occurred where the Mahomet officer attempted to tase Pendleton. Pendleton pulled a handgun, shooting the Mahomet officer in the right arm. Pendleton retreated to his home where he obtained an assault rifle but he then fled the scene in his truck to a local rock quarry. Since Sunday, May 8, law enforcement had been searching for Pendleton.

A nearby witness, heard gunshots coming from the area of the quarry and a perimeter was set up around it. Before the perimeter was completely secured, Pendleton obtained the keys and stole one of the quarry’s company trucks and fled the scene to Southern Illinois.

Once in the Shawnee National Forrest, Lusk Creek Wilderness area of Pope County, Pendleton was seen by a nearby resident who reported him to local authorities.

On Sunday, May 15, at approximately 12:09 a.m., the Illinois State Police (ISP) SWAT observed Pendleton running south from the Sulphur Springs Church cemetery into the woods with what appeared to be a rifle and a bandolier. Operators lost visual on him in the dense woods near the cemetery. A perimeter was established and he was tracked a half mile to a nearby abandon house. At approximately 5 a.m., ISP and FBI SWAT operators cleared the area. Upon approach, Pendleton opened fire. During the subsequent exchange of gunfire, Pendleton shot and injured one FBI SWAT operator.

The FBI and the ISP SWAT formed a perimeter around the house and sent in the remote controlled robot, which discovered Pendleton’s body lying on the second story floor along with the assault rifle. FBI and ISP SWAT entered the house and confirmed his identity. Emergency Services were called to the scene and pronounced Pendleton deceased.

Several crime scenes currently are being processed. ISP anticipates restricted access to the surrounding area through Monday evening. ISP thanked its federal and local partners, specifically the FBI, and gave its condolences to the injured agent and his family. Agencies involved also included the U.S. Marshals Service, U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Coast Guard, the sheriff’s departments of Pope, Hardin, Massac, Johnson and Williamson counties and the Paducah Police Department in Kentucky.

An investigation still is ongoing and more information will be available at a later time.

Staff report

Pendleton

http://thetelegraph.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/web1_1aa-dracy-c-pendleton-1.jpgPendleton Image courtesy of Illinois State Police | For The Telegraph